Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard Bob Mervak
May 14, 2018
Bob Mervak, an American pianist, vocalist, and songwriter, shares stories and music in this engaging conversation. He reminisces about his childhood friendship with Kristen Bell and the creative experiences that shaped his career, including scoring films like 'Hit and Run' and performing for George Clooney. Bob discusses the balance between musicality and technical skill, the complexities of jealousy in young relationships, and the heartfelt inspiration behind his songwriting. Dax chimes in with humor, making this a delightful blend of music and poignant reflection.
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Scoring Hit And Run From Home
- Bob reworked 'Hot Rod Lincoln' for Dax's film and then scored parts of Hit And Run with friend Colton engineering in his living room.
- The DIY recording impressed studio engineers and was used in trailers and sequences of the film.
Studio Risk Shapes Creative Choices
- Studio films limit director choice for key roles like composer to reduce risk on big budgets.
- Dax explains producers protect investments by only approving proven collaborators, forcing trade-offs for filmmakers.
Set Life Felt Like Jazz
- Bob played piano on George Clooney's film The Ides of March and observed actors improvising dialogue like jazz musicians.
- He found the on-set creative process freeform and surprising, comparing it to musical improvisation.